Common Foot and Ankle Injuries

Common foot and ankle injuries Kettering Health Sports Medicine treats include the following.

Achilles Tendinopathy

Achilles tendinopathy is a painful condition characterized by inflammation of the Achilles tendon, typically due to overuse or aging. The Achilles tendon is a large band of tissue in the back of your ankle, which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. This tendon helps you point your foot down, rise on your toes, and push off when you walk.

Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains are a common injury involving damage, such as tears, to the ligaments in the ankle. Sprains can occur when the ankle rolls, turns, or twists beyond its normal range of motion, causing pain, swelling, and instability.

Bunions (Hallux Valgus)

A bunion is a bulge of bone or tissue around the joint of the big toe or small toe that often occurs when the joint is stressed over a period of time. It can cause the bones to sit at an angle instead of straight, with the big toe often turning in toward the second toe.

Flat Feet (Pes Planus)

Flat feet is a common condition in which the arches on the inside of the feet flatten under pressure, sometimes causing pain and instability. This condition typically occurs when the arches of the feet don’t develop during childhood. It can also occur later in life, following an injury or due to aging.

Hammertoes

A hammertoe is when a toe bends or curls downward, causing the middle joint of the affected toe to poke out. Tight-fitting shoes that put pressure on the hammertoe can worsen this condition, and often, a corn—a yellowish callus growth—may develop on the toe.

Morton’s Neuroma

Morton’s neuroma is a buildup of noncancerous (benign) tissue in the nerves running between the long bones of the foot. It occurs when two bones rub together, squeezing the nerve between them. Most often, neuromas develop between the bones leading to the third and fourth toes and can cause swelling, tenderness, and pain. If the pain becomes severe, it may cause tingling, numbness, and burning in the toes.

Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis involve swelling in the joints of the toes, feet, or ankles, causing pain and stiffness. These conditions are similar, however, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, whereas osteoarthritis typically results from aging.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes pain in the foot and heel. The plantar fascia is a tough band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes. This tissue pulls on the heel bone and provides support to the arch of the foot as it pushes off the ground. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the tissue becomes irritated or inflamed.

Plantar fasciitis most often occurs from overusing the plantar fascia, or when the plantar fascia wears down over time with age.

Tests and Diagnostics

Depending on your condition, there are several tests your healthcare provider can perform to determine the extent of your foot or ankle injury:

• Blood tests
• Imaging, such as X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound
• Lab tests
• Physical exams

Treatments for Foot and Ankle Injuries

Depending on the severity of your foot or ankle injury, Kettering Health Sports Medicine offers a variety of treatments, including

• Bracing and orthotics
• Cortisone injections
• Medication
• Prescribed exercises and stretching
• Surgery